Almost everyone remotely associated with motorsports knows that. But who won the 2012 IndyCar title?

The answer is Ryan Hunter-Reay, who became the first American-born champion of a unified IndyCar title since Al Unser Jr. in 1994.

Followers of American motorsports should be celebrating that accomplishment. Instead, we’ve become so NASCARcentric that IndyCar is a small blip on the screen.

Too bad. Since CART and the Indy Racing League merged into one series in 2008 ending a 12-year uncivil war, IndyCar Racing has rivaled NASCAR in terms of racing excitement. Sadly, few have noticed.

While NASCAR is a media darling, 11 of IndyCar’s 16 races in 2013 will be on the television backwaters of the NBC Sports Channel. Yes, the Indianapolis 500 is an ABC staple. But the last six races, culminating with the IndyCar World Championship Oct. 19 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, are on NBCSN.

“We have to be relevant,” Hunter-Reay said Wednesday morning of the IZOD IndyCar series. “We’ve got all the right parts. We’ve got renewed focus. We’ve got great races and drivers.

“We’ve gone the length of the playing field. We’re in the red zone. Now we have to punch it over the goalline and reach a new fan base. It comes down to activating all the strengths we have. We have all the tools, the personalities, the cars and the great races.

“We have a large pool of talent.”

Here is a quick look at the upcoming IndyCar season that opens March 24 in St. Petersburg, Fla., and includes the April 21 Long Beach Grand Prix and the May 26 Indianapolis 500 in addition to the season finale in Fortana.

All teams will use the Dallara chassis in 2013 with power provided either by Honda or Chevrolet. Here’s a look at the top drivers by teams:

Andretti Autosport (Chevy; drivers Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe): Young lineup anchored by the 32-year-old Hunter-Reay, who won four races in 2012 and won the title by three points. Hinchcliffe, 26, finished eighth in points and is considered one of the brighter young talents in open-wheel racing. Michael’s son Marco, 25, slipped since finishing second in Indy 500 as a rookie).

Team Penske (Chevy; Helio Castroneves, Will Power, A.J. Allmendinger): Power, 32, won three races and lost title in the season finale. Castroneves, 37, won two races and finished second in points. Allmendinger replaces Ryan Briscoe in the third car).

Target Chip Ganassi Racing (Honda; Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Charlie Kimball): Franchitti, 39, won his third Indy 500 last year but finished seventh in his bid for a fifth IndyCar title. Former champion Scott Dixon won two races and finished third in the final standings).

Rahal Letterman Racing (Honda; Graham Rahal, James Jakes): Finally, Graham, 24, joins his father as the lead driver on the team co-owned by David Letterman. Could be jump start for both driver and the team. Rahal finished 10th in the final 2012 standings as the No. 3 Ganassi driver.